Pinto José P, Machado Rui S R, Xavier Joana M, Futschik Matthias E
SysBioLab, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, Universidade do Algarve Faro, Portugal.
SysBioLab, Centre for Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, Universidade do Algarve Faro, Portugal ; Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve Faro, Portugal.
Front Genet. 2014 Jun 4;5:160. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00160. eCollection 2014.
The study of molecular networks has recently moved into the limelight of biomedical research. While it has certainly provided us with plenty of new insights into cellular mechanisms, the challenge now is how to modify or even restructure these networks. This is especially true for human diseases, which can be regarded as manifestations of distorted states of molecular networks. Of the possible interventions for altering networks, the use of drugs is presently the most feasible. In this mini-review, we present and discuss some exemplary approaches of how analysis of molecular interaction networks can contribute to pharmacology (e.g., by identifying new drug targets or prediction of drug side effects), as well as list pointers to relevant resources and software to guide future research. We also outline recent progress in the use of drugs for in vitro reprogramming of cells, which constitutes an example par excellence for altering molecular interaction networks with drugs.
分子网络的研究最近已成为生物医学研究的焦点。虽然它确实为我们提供了许多关于细胞机制的新见解，但现在面临的挑战是如何修改甚至重组这些网络。对于人类疾病来说尤其如此，人类疾病可被视为分子网络扭曲状态的表现。在改变网络的可能干预措施中，使用药物目前是最可行的。在这篇小型综述中，我们展示并讨论了一些典型方法，即分子相互作用网络分析如何有助于药理学研究（例如，通过识别新的药物靶点或预测药物副作用），同时列出相关资源和软件的指针，以指导未来的研究。我们还概述了药物用于细胞体外重编程的最新进展，这是用药物改变分子相互作用网络的一个典型例子。
